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GOING CAMPING!

The Edmonton Oilers released their training camp invite list today, and one thing is immediately clear: The team isn’t going to be spending a lot of time entertaining long shots.

61 MEN FOR (ABOUT) 50 JOBS

There are exactly 23 NHL jobs available at Oilers camp, and Andrew Ference is going to be on IR. Bakersfield will take another 25 (or so) and Norfolk will have some stragglers. So Edmonton has little room for surprises in terms of pro rosters, as we know those 50 names pretty well as of today. The club has a bunch of junior kids who will be sent back, and of course two guys on PTO’s who could end up anywhere, including their own driveway. With the list out, let’s see if we can slot everyone in to their logical spot (we will re-visit this at the end of training camp).

ESTIMATED OILERS (23)

G Cam Talbot—Sure No. 1 G, will he play 60 games?

G Jonas Gustavsson—Oilers backups opening night rarely last the season in recent years.

LD Oscar Klefbom—Poised for a big year in 2016-17.

RD Adam Larsson—Steady defender who can move the puck acquired for top pairing.

LD Andrej Sekera—Playing RH side at WCOH, where will he play in Edmonton.

ESTIMATED CONDORS (27)

AHL roster limits and restrictions take time to explain, but here is a quick thumbnail sketch. There is no limit in terms of roster players, but a team can only dress 18 skaters and two goalies per game. No more than six of those 20 men can be veteran or veteran exempt for any game.

Veteran—A veteran is someone who has played 321 or more professional games in the AHL, NHL, or elite European Leagues. Ryan Hamilton is an AHL veteran, David Musil is not.

Veteran-exempt— A Veteran Exempt player has played in 261-320 games in the AHL, NHL or elite European Leagues. It takes a long while to accumulate that kind of total—Tyler Pitlick is still shy. Both categories are veterans.

G Laurent Brossoit—I think he gets NHL time at some point this year.

G Eetu Laurikainen—He could be in Finland by Christmas.

LD Griffin Reinhart—He could make the NHL opening night, more likely a recall in-season.

RD Matt Benning—He has a strong resume, AHL time guaranteed before making NHL push.

Now, there are all kinds of players who are going to play for Norfolk and or Bakersfield (like Connor Knapp) but that is the group at camp and where I see them heading when the team makes all of the final cuts. Do you agree?

Very detailed assessment, however I wonder if Lander will step up in preseason and earn a spot? It’ll be tough, it’s nice to have depth. I think Fayne will be the 7/8 dman this year. I heard he’s got into the best shape of his life, so if he comes to training camp with a fire under his rear end maybe he does make it. Really have to applaud PC for acquiring more pieces and making this the deepest camp in over a decade. Can’t wait for the season to commence!

it clearly looks as though the Oilers are now ready to move away from ineffective players still on the roster like Lander and Nail, especially if a center like Khaira can stick with the team. same with Nail. it seems to me that the Oilers are going to turn the page from this guy, especially if Versteeg and Puljujarvi work out.

the TSN radio guys touched on it today that *if* Puljujarvi and Versteeg play here this season and have some effectiveness that trading Nail for a 3rd rounder or an Emelin type of player could still be done if a team needs to move a player before the season starts due to a cap issue and would thusly make moving Nail a lot less painful.

“Who will be the #7 D if we decide to sign Gryba? I hope it is not Nurse. I’ll rather keep Musil as the #7 and send Nurse down for more development”

No you didn’t say not to sign him. My comment was more about Musil. Some of our left handed D are obviously going to fall away from the fold, whether that is through trade, waivers, or whatever. Musil could make a #7 but I would lean toward Osterle to inject some skating and offence when we play the right opposition? Thoughts?

I thought Musil played okay in his 2 games audition. Why not give him a chance to see if he can survive? Before the start of last season, most fans here didn’t want to give Davidson a chance, Musil may be the next Davidson, who knows? If he doesn’t work out, then Osterle gets his chance.

He is waiver eligible. A two way contract only means if he makes the Oilers he gets paid $$$$$, but if he plays in Bakerfield he gets paid $$. A one way contract means regardless where he plays he gets $$$$$. So, if David Musil is sent down, the Oilers risk he will be picked up by another team. Maybe not a high risk, but a risk.

That might include Jones and Bear, so once they return to Junior, it may be at 48. (if Versteeg / Gryba are signed) As for Fraser, not my first choice, but I think they were looking for just AHL toughness, experience. We sometimes lose site of it, but they need to build the entire organization, because there wasn’t much of one a couple of years ago. If Frazer means less fights for Nurse (if he ends up there) in the AHL, that’s a good thing. Riding at 48/49 isn’t a big deal as you can still pick up a guy, but you would think any trade would mean sending a couple of players for one.

The more I think about the more I’m convinced Yakupov has no part on this years Oilers.

The Oilers may lend Yakupov to the KHL to help grow his game, same way the Stars let Nichushkin go, I’m not sure what the details are but looking at that line up I don’t see him fitting in any RW spot.

If J.P shows he can play a two way game and might get 35-40 points, Yakupov is done.